Every homeowner wants a beautiful garden, but few have hours per day to spend on keeping it that way. The harvest is usually worth all the work, but wouldn’t it be better to plan your garden to require very little maintenance? Heck yes! Here are a few secrets to a low-maintenance garden that brings all the benefits without the back-breaking work.
1. Decide what kind of garden you want
Are you going big this year or keeping it small? For a large garden, the easiest route is to plant in long, straight rows with a walkway in between. For a smaller garden, think about snuggling plants closer together. It could help keep weed growth to a minimum.
2. Start plants indoors
If you start plants indoors and give them a chance to establish themselves before moving them outside, they’ll be better equipped to keep out the weeds. When planing seed, weeds can quickly take over those weak little seedlings. Starting them indoors may help you achieve a higher veggie yield!
3. Mulch, but consider different materials
You probably know that mulch can help keep weeds growth at bay and also retain better moisture in the soil. Both good things for a low-maintenance garden! But you don’t have to use the typical mulch material. Straw (not hay…there’s a difference) for instance, works very well for weed control. You can also use leaves, pine needles, grass clippings, gravel, or even sheets of plywood!
4. Set up a drip system
Establishing a drip system can cost a little money and time up front, but it’ll save you both in the long run. A drip system delivers water directly where it needs to go…right on the ground where it can soak the roots. Sprinklers, on the other hand, water everything in the surrounding area, which can be very wasteful.
5. Build some raised beds
We recently published a post about raised bed gardening. This really cuts down on your weeding, which is a big time saver! There are plenty of ways to do this economically, too!
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